The 16-year-old star - who is favourite to win this year's competition - reportedly embraced the 19-year-old hunk shortly after ending her three-month romance with business trader Joshante Amihyia, 20, over the phone.

A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "Tamera didn't seem to feel bad about ending with Josh -- she was blunt and just said she didn't want him anymore.

"Then she admitted she and Sam kissed after the break-up.

"They'd been flirting backstage and things went from there. Tamera was giggling about it. She said there was something between her and Sam but she'd keep quiet so it didn't appear she had moved on from Josh too fast."

A show source added: "Sam and Tamera do get on really well but they are just friends at the moment."

Sam looked like he could do with another embrace on last night's (02.11.13) Disco Night show after his performance of Dan Hartman classic 'Relight My Fire' was slammed by judge Gary Barlow, who covered the track with Take That in 1996.

He blasted: "Last week I was hard on you, you came to my dressing room, you're keen to learn. But I really didn't like that performance. Your vocals were so exposed.

"He's tried rock, he's tried pop, it's not working. I don't want to be sat here saying the same things every week."

Nicole Scherzinger agreed with Gary's critique, adding: "Your voice sounded so much smaller than it is."

But Gary and Nicole had far kinder words for Hannah Barrett - who survived being in the bottom two last weekend - following her mesmerising rendition of Jocelyn Brown's 'Somebody Else's Guy'.

Gary said: "That is how to come back after being in the bottom two fighting for your life. What a great platform that was for you to showcase your voice - welcome back."

Nicole - who mentors Hannah - added: "Nobody puts my baby in a corner! I'm just so proud of you, you showed us how to do Disco Week."

But some viewers were not taking Nicole's comments seriously and took to Twitter to suggest the brunette stunner was drunk during the live show.

However, an 'X Factor' insider insisted the former Pussycat Dolls singer was simply "getting into the disco spirit" on the night.

The source explained: "After watching the girls in rehearsals she was really confident all were going to have a fantastic night.

"Before going into studio, Nicole was dancing with her team in her dressing room, playing disco classics while she got ready for the show."

What's more, 'X Factor' bosses ditched the controversial Flash Vote and the usual group performance on last night's show, replacing the latter with a five-minute medley of disco classics by Chic featuring Nile Rodgers.